Representation of Hispanics

In my project I would to like to represent Hispanics in the United States. In media Latino immigrants have had the stereotypes of being criminals, drug dealers and not contributing to society. Many times, when watching different films or tv shows the “bad guy” or the maid is Hispanics and tends to have a strong Hispanic accent. I don’t believe this representation is fair as I am Hispanic and if not all most people, I know that are Hispanic are professionals and have never committed a crime or done drugs before. Although yes, some Hispanics in this country are drug dealers and criminals but media does exaggerate this. Studies showed that 50% of Latin immigrants were represented in an unlawful act and 38% were depicted as incarcerated.

          One film that represents Hispanics in this way is “Colombiana” directed by Oliver Megaton. In the film a Colombian girl, Cataleya, witnessed drug lords kill her parents before her eyes. Then when she grows up, she becomes hitman for her uncle, she engages in violent murders and hopes to one day get revenge on the mobster responsible for her parents for her parents’ death. In this film it also gives a false representation of what Colombians are in the united states. Cataleya is in Chicago and killing all these people as it was nothing and this makes people think that all Colombians are like this. This film also gives him the perception that in Colombia people are getting killed left and right which isn’t true. I don’t like this representation of Colombians as they truly aren’t all like this and this makes people believe otherwise.

          Another representation of Hispanics is in the series “Family Guy” the maid the Griffin residence, Consuela. First off Consuela in the film always seems to mad or in a bad mood. Whenever she picks up the phone she always just says no, no, and no and she never delivers messages to anyone. She also seems to not be able to speak English as she calls everyone mister even women and speaks with a very strong accent. Moreover, when she asked to clean something in the house she responds “I no can clean” showing she has broken English. Although she is very funny on the show, she represents Hispanics as selfish, unproductive and not able to speak English. This is very few Hispanics that come to this country as they normally come here to work hard and chase their dreams.

          In my project when I’m representing the Hispanic community in the United States, I would retain very few characteristics form how they are represented in media at the moment. A few of the few things I would maybe retain is the accent and the culture they have. I would use their accent so it gets better throughout and how that wont stop her from chasing her dreams and I would never leave her culture behind as that is what makes her special and unique and she is proud of this. What I would emphasis is her past how she came from nothing, she grew up in poor neighborhoods although there was evil around her, she never fell into that. She worked to reach the American dream tirelessly. She works hard and long hours, but she always kept her eyes on the prize. After lots of hard work she makes it she becomes a professional and got a job, she finds the perfect man and starts her own family. I would challenge how even though there was evil around her most of us don’t fall for that and I would show the obstacles she had to overcome. Most of all I would emphasis how she made it on her own, a man didn’t get her there, with her hard work and dedication she is now living the American dream.